Jimmy Garoppolo took the blame this week for a PED violation earlier this off-season, admitting that he misinterpreted the rules and failed a test legitimately while he was on the Las Vegas Raiders last season. Garoppolo, who has since signed with the Los Angeles Rams, will serve a two-game suspension to begin the 2024 season.

According to ESPN, the NFL claims that Garoppolo violated the PED policy by “using a prescribed medication without having a valid Therapeutic Use Exemption.” Garoppolo has reportedly accepted these accusations.

“I hate to joke about it, but I just messed up the T.U.E. when I first got to Las Vegas. … Bad timing, I guess,” Garoppolo said.

The quarterback’s lighthearted response to the suspension is likely due to its short duration and the nature of his offense, which seemed accidental. Garoppolo was almost certainly getting released by the Raiders anyway, as the team managed to save around $10 million in cap space by nullifying his guaranteed contract for the coming season.

The Rams already have starting quarterback Matthew Stafford under contract through at least the 2025 season, so Garoppolo will merely serve as a quality backup in Los Angeles. The 33-year-old signed a one-year deal for $4.5 million.

Garoppolo went to Las Vegas after five full seasons with the San Francisco 49ers, where he lifted the team back to relevancy but also dealt with a number of injuries. His lone season as a Raider was less fortuitous, as he started in just six games for a team that quickly fell out of playoff contention.

Due to his poor performance in 2023, Garoppolo was not in a position to seek a starting job this year in free agency, but he remains one of the league’s premier backup options. Los Angeles suffered through a terrible stretch in 2022 when Stafford went down, but after Garoppolo serves his two games, the team will be more prepared if another emergency arises under center.

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell remained the team’s starter in Week 15 despite struggling for several weeks under center.

He played Thursday night in a game against the Los Angeles Chargers, throwing four TDs – doubling his season record in just one half.

The decision to start O’Connell was made 24 hours before the game, as Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce seemed to still be deciding late Wednesday.

“We’re still evaluating,” Pierce told reporters Wednesday. “If there’s a chance to get better, a chance to improve, a chance to put us in position to win, then we have to get all the factors that go into it. … We’re going to do whatever it takes to put ourselves in position to win. And after today, we’ll have a better answer this evening.”

Pierce stood by O’Connell during the press conference, arguing that the young passer deserved another chance after “one bad game” (a 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15). But while O’Connell has certainly had better days than he did as the starter last weekend, he’s never been too effective. He has not led the team to a win since November 12 and has earned a 31.1 quarterback rating throughout seven appearances.

While replacing O’Connell felt intuitive, the Raiders also seem to have reasons to keep him on the field. Backups Jimmy Garoppolo and Brian Hoyer have had their chances and proven similarly hapless, with Garoppolo proving especially disappointing given his three-year, $75 million contract with the team. The Raiders are also 5-8 and effectively eliminated from the playoffs, giving them little reason to look for immediate answers at the position. O’Connell is younger and stands to gain the most through experience.

Despite figuring as a potential contender for several seasons, the Raiders have consistently struggled and failed to capitalize on the star power they possess. Between Josh Jacobs and Davante Adams on offense and Maxx Crosby on defense, there are pieces in place for the team to make some noise in the AFC. Instead, the team performed so poorly this season that head coach Josh McDaniels was fired. Las Vegas’ culture has reportedly improved since, but winning has not yet followed.

The San Francisco 49ers listed quarterback Trey Lance as the third-string option Wednesday, behind starter Brock Purdy and new backup Sam Darnold. Lance and Darnold reportedly fought for the backup position throughout the preseason, but head coach Kyle Shanahan confirmed that the team reached a verdict earlier this month.

“We gave (Lance) a big chance to win that 2-spot this year… it was a very tough fight, but in the long run, Sam ended up winning it,” Shanahan said, according to The Athletic.

In the 2021 NFL Draft, the 49ers gave the Miami Dolphins three first-round picks in order to move up to the third overall pick and draft Lance, a largely inexperienced passer with just one full college season at North Dakota State. In two seasons since, Lance has only appeared in eight NFL games and began the 2022 season as the starter before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury in Week 2.

While Lance recovered from surgery, the 49ers turned to Jimmy Garoppolo and then Purdy, the rookie third-string quarterback who only went in after two injuries at his position. Purdy made an immediate impact, leading the team into the postseason and all the way to the NFC Championship before going down with an injury himself. Shanahan said that his late-season performance secured him the starting job early on in the offseason.

“I mean this isn’t a thing where we’re giving up on Trey,” Shanahan said in a local radio interview Wednesday. “This is more of how Brock played in his seven games and that was decided before the season started, and how Sam’s looked. They’ve both looked good but we have to make a decision here. You only get so many reps at it. We feel, starting about 10 days ago, Sam really separated himself, and we’ve got to keep it real in that way.”

Before arriving in San Francisco, Darnold played three seasons for the Jets and two for the Panthers, never making a convincing case as a franchise quarterback for either team. The USC product will return to California and provide a capable safety net if Purdy struggles or goes down again.

Zach Wilson likely isn’t the answer to the quarterback solution that the New York Jets have been searching for and the organization may need to turn elsewhere soon.

It was an ugly performance for the second-year quarterback on Thursday Night Football in a 19-3 loss against Jacksonville Jaguars.

Wilson played almost three-quarters of the game and threw for just 92 yards in a game the Jets had to have to keep realistic playoff hopes alive.

To make matters worse for Wilson, he was yanked out of the game and replaced by quarterback Chris Streveler, who was on the practice squad just a couple of days ago.

Streveler in just over a quarter was more effective than Wilson was all night, passing and rushing for 90 and 54 yards respectively.

While Wilson has shown off his big-play ability and talent at times this season, he has been unable to put it together consistently.

On the season, Wilson has completed just 54.5% of his passes and has thrown just six touchdown passes to seven interceptions.

Some Jets fans have already had enough of Wilson and were chanting for Streveler to come into the game in the third quarter.

If the organization is ready to move on from the 2021 second-overall pick, names that will come to mind are veteran quarterbacks including future Hall of Famers Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and of course Jimmy Garoppolo.

While those quarterbacks will clearly be upgrades over Wilson next year, the Jets would be foolish to disregard one name – and that’s Mike White.

Sure, he might be a no-name in the eyes of many NFL fans and pundits considering where he was drafted but White has provided the Jets with a spark for the most part.

In the game he replaced Wilson against the Chicago Bears, the former fifth-round pick lit up the stat sheet, throwing 315 yards and three touchdown passes in the rain.

He also did not turn the ball over.

Additionally, White is only still 27 years old compared to Brady and Rodgers, who are 45 and 39 years old respectively.

So he could have a much longer future with the Jets compared with a veteran.

But unfortunately for White, he reportedly suffered multiple rib fractures and will not return until the doctors clear him for contact.

While Jets head coach Robert Saleh has not committed to a week 17 starter for the Jets, it obviously has to be White if healthy.

Wilson’s poor play might force the organization to look in another direction in 2023 – but White deserves to be in the conversation with other veteran quarterbacks.

Once thought to be a season-ending injury, medical personnel have concluded that Jimmy Garoppolo’s broken left foot will not require surgery. The San Francisco 49ers quarterback could reportedly return to the field in seven to eight weeks.

Initial reports suggested that the quarterback had suffered a Lisfranc injury against the Dolphins Sunday, which would have required season-ending surgery. Those assessments were later rejected. Following Garoppolo’s injury update, the 49ers announced that they will not put him on injured reserve, a clear sign that they hope to start him again this season. But Head Coach Kyle Shanahan clarified in a press conference that he still considers it a slim chance.

“It is not a Lisfranc (injury). They don’t have to do surgery on it. So, it’ll be a big recovery, but much less than what we anticipated,” Shanahan said. “There’s that way outside chance late into the playoffs or something like that. But it’s just an outside chance. I’m not really real optimistic about that, but they didn’t rule it out.”

As Shanahan noted, the 49ers would have to make a deep run in the playoffs for Garoppolo to have a chance of seeing the field again this season. Considering the team’s improvement in recent weeks, that could still be possible. After a somewhat productive start in 2022, the 49ers became a serious Super Bowl contender as its offense found its footing.

Now 8-4, new trade acquisition Christian McCaffrey has joined a scheme that includes receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, as well as star tight end George Kittle. Garoppolo was leading the dynamic offense to great effect before his recent setback.

After Garoppolo’s injury, backup quarterback Brock Purdy stepped in and guided San Francisco to a 33-17 win over Miami. After a successful college career at Iowa State, Purdy was the 262nd and final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. He is set to make the first start of his NFL career this week against Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Deshaun Watson will serve an 11-game suspension and the Cleveland Browns will need to decide who its new starting quarterback will be. 

In addition to the suspension, Watson agreed to pay a fine of $5 million, which is the largest player fine in NFL history. 

In between late 2019 and early 2021, the quarterback allegedly engaged in sexual misconduct, victimizing more than two dozen massage therapists.  

While two grand juries did not charge him, the NFL decided to take action. 

Originally, the suspension was six games but the NFL and the player’s associations reached an agreement on an 11-game suspension. 

“I apologize once again for any pain this situation has caused,” Watson said. 

“I take accountability for the decisions I made. My focus going forward is on working to become the best version of myself on and off the field and supporting my teammates however possible while I’m away from the team.” 

Now with the suspension locked in, the Browns will be without their starting quarterback for most of the season. 

Despite the controversy, the Browns invested a lot in Watson.

First, it traded three first-round picks, along with a third and fourth-rounder to acquire him. 

Then the Browns awarded him a five-year fully guaranteed $230 million contract.

Now the team might be left with just Jacoby Brissett, who was set to be Watson’s backup. 

Over his six-year NFL career, Brissett has thrown for more than 7,700 yards while completing around 60% of his passes. 

If not Brissett, then the Browns could look elsewhere in the trade market – particularly at Jimmy Garoppolo – who has been in the rumor mill since last season ended. 

In fact, the San Francisco 49ers confirmed it will move on from him and seek a trade. 

However, he could get cut if there are no takers for Garoppolo, who is coming off shoulder surgery and is set to make around $25 million next year. 

So potentially, the Browns might be able to get him in free agency if the organization wants him. 

The San Francisco 49ers will be moving on from the Jimmy Garoppolo era and turning to a quarterback with major upside.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan on Tuesday confirmed that the team has “moved on to Trey [Lance].”

“That’s nothing against Jimmy,” said Shanahan.

“We made that decision a year ago and we’re not going to mess around with that anymore…. Jimmy understands that fully. He’s a big guy and it’s nothing against him. It’s a business decision.”

This was always the inevitable future when the 49ers traded up to third overall in a deep quarterback draft class to take Trey Lance out of North Dakota State.

The team sent three first-round picks and a third-round selection to acquire the third overall pick in 2021 from the Miami Dolphins.

The comments today come after the 49ers gave reportedly gave Garoppolo’s agents permission to explore a trade.

Meanwhile, Shanahan noted it has been tough to trade Garoppolo this offseason due to him coming off shoulder surgery – with other teams concerned over his health.

While Garoppolo has been cleared to return to the practice, Shanahan is hoping to trade the quarterback “as soon as we can.”

Garoppolo has spent the past five seasons with the 49ers.

With the team, he has thrown 66 touchdown passes to 38 interceptions.

In the 2021 season, Garoppolo completed a little above 68% of his passes.

The 49ers in 2017 acquired Garoppolo for a second-round pick from the New England Patriots.

This time, it’s unclear if the 49ers will be able to trade Garoppolo, who is set to make $25 million next year.

If not, the 49ers could release the 30-year-old and allow him to hit the open market.

Lance, on the other hand, will look to build off 2021 and start the bulk of the 49ers’ games this season.

Last year, Lance threw five touchdown passes to two interceptions and completed under 58% of his passes.

Jimmy Garoppolo’s busy offseason is only getting started. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Wednesday that the 49ers gave the quarterback and his agents permission to seek a trade. Shortly before this development, Garoppolo had been cleared to practice with the team following surgery in March.

Talk of the 49ers dealing Garoppolo has persisted for several months and intensified in May when Head Coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters that the quarterback would likely be traded. Garoppolo’s surgery was reportedly responsible for the delay, and Schefter said that the 49ers are still “expected to exercise caution” as they explore options this summer.

In five seasons with the 49ers, Garoppolo has led the team in two lengthy postseason runs. In 2019, he threw for 3,978 passing yards and 27 touchdowns as San Francisco went 13-3 in the regular season. They lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.

This past year, Garoppolo’s only other healthy season as a starter, the team snuck into the playoffs with a 10-7 record but upset the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers to advance to the NFC Championship Game. They lost 20-17 to the Los Angeles Rams, who went on to win the Super Bowl.

Based on his successful postseason resume, it’s clear that the 49ers aren’t looking for other options because of Garoppolo’s time on the field. By most measures, he appears to be a strong leader with a proven track record. But because of multiple injuries, his time off the field seems to be the primary issue.

Since 2018, Garoppolo has failed to complete two seasons with the team, and in those years, San Francisco earned a 10-22 combined record. With his most recent surgery in mind, the quarterback becomes even more of a liability.

Despite injury concerns, multiple teams are likely to inquire about Garoppolo as the season approaches. With Deshaun Watson in line for a lengthy suspension, the Cleveland Browns appear to be prime trade candidates with the cap space necessary to take on his contract, but many other teams could benefit from Garoppolo’s experience for the right price. The fight for Garoppolo is unlikely to turn into the sweepstakes that many other quarterbacks have enjoyed as free agents in recent years, but the upside for some teams will surely outweigh the potential hazards.

There were myriad solutions as to what the San Francisco 49ers could do with quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo. However, things got murky following the signal caller’s shoulder surgery earlier this month.

Few, if any, teams desire to trade for a quarterback coming off surgery to his throwing shoulder who’s due to earn $25 million. To further complicate things, reports surfaced that say “Jimmy G” underwent the procedure without first telling the team.

Barring tearing up his $25 million deal and signing a new contract, Garoppolo ain’t going anywhere.

The most likely solution is the Niners will cut him. None of his salary becomes guaranteed until the eve of Week 1, and, because he’s in the final year of his deal, if they do cut him there would only be $1.4 million in dead money.

So, yeah… hold off on buying that Jimmy Garoppolo 49ers jersey.

Following a nearly 18-minute Zoom media session Tuesday, San Francisco 49ers (as of now) quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo looked into the camera and delivered what could only be construed as a farewell: “It’s been a hell of a ride. I love you guys. See ya.”

On that note, Garoppolo got up from his seat and walked away—literally and most likely figuratively.

It wasn’t surprising, as GM John Lynch and coach Kyle Shanahan earlier avoided questions about Jimmy G’s future with the team.

“If we knew exactly what was happening, we would have told Jimmy,” Shanahan said after the team’s playoff loss. “But this season just ended and we’ve got a great, young quarterback who was a rookie and we have a great quarterback here who is a veteran … I’ve got the ultimate respect for Jimmy and I’m very excited about Trey. That’s where we’re at right now.

“So, we’re in a situation where we’ve got to make some tough decisions that won’t be easy. But I’m happy about that. That means you’ve got the best scenario going and that’s why we’ve got to put a lot of thought into this. And Jimmy will know everything as we go.”

Garoppolo expects to be traded but hopes to have a say in where he lands.

“I was talking to John yesterday about finding the right destination and whatever the future holds, just doing it the right way,” Garoppolo said. “I’ve got a long career ahead of me. I’m excited about it. I’m excited about the opportunities to come. I just want to go to a place where they want to win. That’s really what I’m in this game for. I’m here to play football, win football games and as long as I’ve got that and good people around me, I think the rest will take care of itself.”

“Where” Jimmy G is traded to is the question, “when” is not. At the start of the new league year on March 16, Garoppolo is scheduled to count $26.905 million against San Francisco’s salary cap for 2022; moving him would save $25.505 million.

“As far as the whole trade situation, John [Lynch] has been very clear with it,” Garoppolo said. “I think they’re trying to do the best for me, I’m trying to do the best for them and we’re working together. We haven’t really made too much progress on it, but I think things will start happening here pretty quickly.”

One holdup could be Garoppolo’s right thumb, with which he played the final five games (including playoffs) on a torn ligament suffered in a December 23 loss to the Tennessee Titans. He plans to see a specialist this week about it.

“If I can avoid surgery, that’s really what I’m hoping for, but we’ll see,” Garoppolo said.

We’ve all seen how this story goes, time in and time out. Yet, every time it happens, the only thing that we can do is shake our heads in simultaneous amazement and disbelief.

Aaron Rodgers led the Green Bay Packers to victory against the 49ers after orchestrating a game-winning drive with less than a minute left, capped by a Mason Crosby 51-yard field goal to win it.

After the 49ers took a one-point lead with a Jimmy Garoppolo 12-yard touchdown pass to fullback Kyle Juszczyk, Rodgers took over at Green Bay’s 25 yard-line with just 37 seconds remaining and no timeouts.

The future Hall of Famer immediately threw a 25-yard dart to Davonte Adams, who finished the game with 12 receptions for 132 yards. Then on 3rd &10, Rodgers and Adams connected again on a 17-yard completion which brought the offense within field goal range, setting the stage for the 15-year veteran kicker Mason Crosby.

“How can you not be romantic about football, man?” Rodgers said after the game in a nod to the Brad Pitt line in Moneyball. 

Rodgers had a strong outing, completing 23 of 33 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Adams deserves equal praise, staying in the game after being the recipient of a brutal helmet-to-helmet shot with 7:41 left in the fourth quarter.

“My first thoughts were devising how I wanted to get us in field goal range, then it was how can I get 17 [Adams] the ball,” said Rodgers.

The emotional win versus the 49ers is noteworthy. Offseason frustrations between Rodgers and Green Bay’s front office raised questions over the quarterback’s commitment to leading his roster, especially after the Week One 38-3 debacle against the New Orleans Saints.

However, this comeback victory should put to rest any doubt about where his heart and mind are set.

“I feel good about our team,” Rodgers told the Associated Press. “Week One was an anomaly. I said that and I believe that. We bounced back Week Two. Played a great time tonight right down to the wire. This plane ride is going to feel incredible.”

The San Francisco 49ers drafted quarterback Trey Lance after trading up to get the No. 3 pick from the Miami Dolphins. Lance is expected to be the backup for starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo.

In the offseason, the Niners lost former defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. Saleh built the Niners’ defense into one of the league’s best so the loss could be detrimental for a team that may be lacking on the offensive side of the ball. Saleh left San Francisco to become the head coach of the New York Jets. San Francisco hired DeMeco Ryans as their new defensive coordinator. Ryans will have the major task of filling Saleh’s shoes and making sure the defense is as dominant as it has been over the past few years.

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San Francisco 49ers Schedule:

• Week 1: Sun 09/12 at Detroit Lions
• Week 2: Sun 09/19 at Philadelphia Eagles
• Week 3: Sun 09/26 vs Green Bay Packers
• Week 4: Sun 10/03 vs Seattle Seahawks
• Week 5: Sun 10/10 at Arizona Cardinals
• Week 6: BYE
• Week 7: Sun 10/24 vs Indianapolis Colts
• Week 8: Sun 10/31 at Chicago Bears
• Week 9: Sun 11/07 vs Atlanta Falcons
• Week 10: Mon 11/15 vs Los Angeles Rams
• Week 11: Sun 11/21 at Jacksonville Jaguars
• Week 12: Sun 11/28 vs Minnesota Vikings
• Week 13: Sun 12/05 at Seattle Seahawks
• Week 14: Sun 12/12 at Cincinnati Bengals
• Week 15: Sun 12/19 vs Atlanta Falcons 
• Week 16: Thu 12/23 at Tennessee Titans 
• Week 17: Sun 1/02 vs Houston Texans
• Week 18: Sun 01/09 at Los Angeles Rams

NFC West: The Niners will have to work hard if they want to compete in a very tough division. Currently, the favorites to win the NFC West are the Seahawks, and they have been upgrading their offense in the offseason. Aside from Seattle, San Francisco has to worry about the Rams, who have also been on the rise in the division. Not to mention, Arizona is only going to improve in Kyler Murray’s third season under center.

Matchups: The first two games of the season will be critical for San Francisco. They play the Lions in Week 1 and the Eagles in Week 2. Both are very winnable matchups and if the team has any chance at making the postseason, they must begin the season 2-0. One of the biggest games for the Niners will be the final week of the season against the Rams. If the Niners exceed expectations, that game could have playoff implications. Other noteworthy matchups include contests against the Packers, Seahawks and Titans.

Overall: The Niners are entering this season with a new defensive coordinator in Ryans. Ryans’ performance will determine if the Niners’ defense remains one of the league’s best. In addition, the team has drafted Lance, who is the future of the franchise. If Lance gets an opportunity and performs well, he may surpass Garoppolo on the depth chart. The Niners are hoping to make the postseason, but the lack of offensive weapons and the tough division they play in will make that goal very difficult to achieve.

Prediction: The Niners will finish with a 9-8 record.

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The San Francisco 49ers took a pretty significant gamble during the 2021 NFL Draft by trading up to get the No. 3 pick. The 49ers gave up three future first-round picks and a 2022 third-rounder to snag the No. 3 pick from the Miami Dolphins. With the pick, the Niners selected quarterback Trey Lance.

49ers starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was not surprised by the team’s decision to draft a younger quarterback. 49ers general manager John Lynch had informed the veteran of what they were going to do on draft night. There were no hard feelings, as Garoppolo appreciated the heads up by the team. “Yeah, John called me,” Garoppolo said. “He didn’t tell me who [they were taking] or how they were going to do it. But he gave me the heads up before. John has been really cool throughout this whole process. Throughout the whole thing, it could have gotten a little fishy here and there, but he was really straightforward, and I appreciate him for that.”

San Francisco will not rush to trade Garoppolo, but rather, the team will keep him because they have full confidence in his ability. “When he’s played, we’ve won,” Lynch said after the draft. “We know we can win with him. And yeah, that made the whole decision in the first place hard. I think it gives us the best chance, first and foremost, to win. I feel like we have a team that’s ready to. As ownership, to have that commitment to allow us to do this really makes for a good situation. That just gives us a chance. Then we’ve got to go do it. We’re excited.”

This feeling was reiterated by head coach Kyle Shanahan, who wanted both quarterbacks in San Francisco and was excited about Lance. “I want Jimmy to be here, and I want this kid brought along,” Shanahan told reporters last Thursday. “I want to see how [Lance] does, and if it turns into a competition, it turns into a competition. I’d be excited about that if he showed he was ready for it and stuff.”

Veteran quarterback Garoppolo looks forward to having a mentor-mentee relationship with Lance. “It’s kind of coming full circle,” Garoppolo said. “You go through this NFL career, and you start as a young guy coming in. Tom [Brady] kind of showed me the ropes. The competition between us was awesome. It really made me grow as a rookie and as a young player. So, that’s kind of what me and Trey, we’ll mold our relationship into that. But it will happen naturally. It’s one of those things you can’t force anything. Just let it come as it may.”

Jimmy Garoppolo is coming off a Super Bowl performance that he’d definitely like to forget. Less than a week ago on February 2, he went 20-31 with 219 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions as the 49ers squandered their chance at winning the franchise’s sixth championship.

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“I think Jimmy is one of the main reasons we got to the Super Bowl,” coach Kyle Shanahan said at the 49ers season-ending press conference Thursday. “I think he overcame a lot. This was his first year in his career going through an entire NFL season. He still doesn’t have as many starts and stuff as Baker Mayfield. I think he had a hell of a first year truly playing the position, especially coming off an ACL where you have to fight through that a ton as a quarterback, where your rhythm and everything is not there at the beginning of the year. For him to be like that and to not let the pressure get to him, and to improve as the year went, I think says a ton about Jimmy. I can’t tell you how much I loved coaching the guy as a player and as a person this year.”

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Garoppolo is coming off his first full season with the Niners compiling 3,978 yards with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. In the playoffs, he had two touchdowns, three interceptions and only averaged 142.3 passing yards in three games. He will earn $23.8 million in 2020 in his third year of a five-year deal worth $137.5 million that he signed in 2017.

The 49ers are 21-6 with Garoppolo as a starter and this year his completion rate of 68% and his yards per pass (7.9) were good enough for third in the league. His fourth quarter stats were also impressive consisting of six touchdowns and one interception and a passer rating 105.6, according to CBS Sports. Those stats are a couple reasons why the 49ers should not move on from Garoppolo.

The 49ers lost in heartbreaking fashion to the Chiefs in Super Bowl 54 Sunday by blowing a ten-point lead in the fourth quarter. That being said, there were definitely some calls 49ers’ fans were upset about and we’re going to breakdown some of the plays that were somewhat controversial during San Francisco’s 31-20 loss.

The first play that 49ers’ fans will argue against was the offensive pass interference call on tight end Greg Kittle who caught a pass late in the second quarter that would have set the 49ers up on the Chiefs’ 13-yard line. Both the defender and Kittle have their hands out jockeying for position but there is a clear push-off from the two-time Pro Bowler right before he makes the catch. There also wasn’t much outrage from the sidelines as the 49ers ended up with a field goal to make it 10-10 going into halftime.

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The biggest call of the game seemed to be the instance where Chiefs’ running back Damien Williams caught a 5-yard touchdown pass where he had to reach out with the football to break the plane before stepping out of bounds. It was initially ruled a touchdown by the game official standing by the pylon and after review there was no clear evidence that Williams had stepped out of bounds before the ball crossed the line.

However, the 49ers definitely caught a break when they were trying to score late in the fourth quarter with 2:44 remaining. After seven plays San Francisco was facing a 4th and 10 at the Chiefs 49 with 1:25 left in the fourth. Jimmy Garoppolo ended up getting sacked by Chiefs’ defensive end Frank Clark, but after looking at the replay it’s clear that the officials should have called delay of game as the game clock was on “zero” for over a second.

Whether or not Niners’ fans feel they were screwed in the game, there’s no question they blew their chances and caught a break late in the game.  We’ve posted both videos below so you can decide for yourself.

The 49ers blew a ten-point lead in the fourth quarter and were outscored 21-0 en route to a 31-20 Super Bowl LIV loss on Sunday. Among the players most disappointed by the missed opportunity, was offensive tackle and 13-year veteran Joe Staley who had previously lost Super Bowl 47 with San Francisco in 2013.

The 35-year-old appeared to be very distraught while being interviewed by reporters following the fourth quarter collapse. When asked if he thought 20 points would be enough to win the game, Staley responded, “No.” He was also asked if this Super Bowl loss stings more than the last one. Staley succinctly replied “Yes.”

SLIDESHOW: 50 GREAT SPORTS FIGURES WHO DIED IN 2019

After gathering his thoughts, the six-time Pro Bowler continued, “Yeah, I’m sorry. This is super disappointing. This is very hard being in this moment right now. You put your heart and soul and your whole entire life into trying to be a Super Bowl champion and you get towards the end of your career. And you realize how rare these opportunities are. Emotions are still raw and real for me right now. I’m trying to answer questions and I’m sorry that I’m not … but it’s … put yourself in my shoes for a second; it’s tough.”

Since being drafted by San Francisco in 2007, Staley has seen four head coaching regimes fail before Kyle Shanahan worked to turn the franchise around and to have two opportunities to win a championship slip away is obviously heartbreaking. Adding to the dismay, he sustained a cut on his hand that required stitches.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo who went 20-31 with 219 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions acknowledged his offensive lineman in the post game press conference. “It sucks losing it for a guy, especially, like Joe, just everything he’s been through. This whole team, I mean, it’s an incredible team, a team that’s unlike any team I’ve ever been a part of.”

On Thursday, Staley told NFL.com that he’s not sure when he’ll retire and remains under contract until 2021 but also mentioned that sometimes he feels like he has five years left and other times it “feels like five minutes.” When asked about the team’s bright future Staley bluntly stated, “This football team, 100 percent. This football team is built for the long haul, and I could not be more proud of the guys that we have in our locker room. I think we have a ton of talent, and we will be back.”

The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-20 in Super Bowl LIV becoming the second team in the last four years to win after trailing by double digits. The Chiefs started the fourth quarter down by ten points and erased the deficit en route to victory by scoring 21 in the fourth quarter for the second biggest comeback in Super Bowl history.

Patrick Mahomes was named the Super Bowl 54 MVP and it was much deserved, especially since he was able to avoid sacks and escape constant pressure from the 49ers defensive line. Mahomes finished the game with 286 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions and also rushed nine times for 29 yards and a touchdown. In the fourth quarter alone, he was 10-17 with 145 yards, his most productive quarter. According to NFL Research, the 24-year-old became the youngest player to win a regular season MVP and Super Bowl MVP.

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The comeback began with a 44-yard pass to Tyreke Hill on 3rd and 15 with just over seven minutes left in the fourth quarter. Down 20-10 and four plays later, Mahomes found Travis Kelce wide-open in the endzone to cut the lead to three. The Chiefs defense held strong on the next drive forcing the Niners to punt and Mahomes followed that up with a seven-play 65-yard drive that concluded with a five-yard touchdown catch by Damien Williams.

The Niners had one last chance to hold the Chiefs by attempting to stop the run and using two timeouts, but on third down Williams broke free and ran 38 yards for a touchdown leaving the 49ers just over a minute to make up an 11 point deficit, which they could not complete. Williams was a constant thorn in the Niners’ side as he finished the game with 104 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

San Francisco was scoreless in the fourth quarter as Jimmy Garoppolo finished the game 20-31 with 219 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Raheem Mostert rushed 12 times for 58 yards and a touchdown, but 17 of those yards came on one run and the Chiefs made adjustments to alter his run path and he was never really able to get going. On San Francisco’s final four drives, the Chiefs defense forced two punts, a turnover on downs and an interception. Stopping the run in the second half was a huge reason why the Niners couldn’t kill the clock more effectively and it ultimately kept the Chiefs in the game.

The conference championships have arrived and the NFL is ready to see what will be two highly anticipated games. Veteran quarterbacks take on rookies as established franchises seek to hold firm against rising ones. The AFC and NFC Championship games are set to kickoff tomorrow.

AFC: Tennessee Titans (9-7) @ Kansas City Chiefs (12-4)

Tennessee heads to Kansas City after coming off two giant wins against the number one defense of the New England Patriots in the Wild Card round and the number one offense of the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional round. The Titans have won seven of their last nine games.

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The Titans offense, led by quarterback Ryan Tannehill and Derrick Henry, have proven to be a powerhouse, especially in the playoffs thus far. The defense will find difficulty in stopping Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, but does carry a lot of momentum into Kansas City after their two previous games.

Mahomes will take key lessons learned from last year’s AFC Championship loss and apply them here in hopes of avenging that loss to the New England Patriots.

“Last year they caught us a little off guard with the coverages they played at the beginning of the game,” Mahomes said. “We made adjustments and were able to score points later in the game, but you want to make sure that you’re just preparing for everything. You know that [the Titans have] a good defense. They do a lot of different things, play a lot of man, play a lot of zone and so you know they’re going to throw different coverages out there against you.”

Kansas City is favored to win. Line, Over/Under: KC -7, 53

Date/Time: Sun, Jan 19/ 3:05 p.m. ET

Channel: CBS

NFC: Green Bay Packers (13-3) @ San Francisco 49ers (13-3)

The Packers enter hostile territory in what is set to be a great NFC Championship game. This is the eighth playoff meeting between these two teams and just the second NFC Championship Game.

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Green Bay will look to quarterback Aaron Rodgers to step up and land some key shots against a mighty 49ers defense. He has famously avoided throwing in Richard Sherman‘s direction, so that matchup between Davante Adams and any other 49ers cornerback will be key.

The Packers offensive line has proved to be one of the best in the NFL and will have to hold Nick Bosa, the favorite for Defensive Rookie of the Year, at bay.

San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will look to George Kittle early and often, as Kittle has proved his worth and been a dominate force for the 49ers offense.

In response to his ups and downs throughout the season thus far, Garoppolo said, “That’s just part of being a quarterback. In football, bad things are going to happen at some point. No one’s ever going to play a perfect game, so it’s just how you react to those things.”

San Francisco is favored to win. Line, Over/Under: SF -7.5, 46.5

Date/Time: Sun, Jan 19/ 6:40 p.m. ET

Channel: FOX

Tickets are on sale now for the NFC Championship game between the San Francisco 49ers and the visiting Green Bay Packers. The game is set for this Sunday, January 19, at 6:40 pm ET on FOX.

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The 49ers are coming off a dominant 27-10 win over the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Divisional Round game this past Sunday. Jimmy Garoppolo threw for just 131 yards with one touchdown and an interception, but the running game worked well for the Niners. Tevin Coleman lead the way with 12 rushes for 105 yards and two touchdowns while Raheem Mostert carried the ball 12 times for 58 yards. Both players averaged 4.8 yards per carry.

On the defensive side of the ball, Nick Bosa made Kirk Cousins uncomfortable all game and finished with two sacks. In the regular season the Niners gave up only 281 yards of total offense per game, good enough for second best in the league. Against Minnesota they only gave up just 147 yards of offense. Look for them to pressure Rodgers with different blitz packages.

The Packers are coming off a hard fought battle at Lambeau Field as they defeated the Seahawks 28-23. Davante Adams lead the way for Green Bay with eight receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns. Aaron Jones only averaged three yards per carry, but was able to get into the endzone twice.

One of the biggest storylines will be Garoppolo vs Rodgers, the up and coming quarterback opposite a Super Bowl Champion with eight Pro Bowl appearances. Garoppolo is coming off his first full season with the Niners compiling 3,978 yards with 27 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Meanwhile, Rodgers is in his 15th year with Green Bay and is coming off a very efficient season throwing for 4,002 yards with 26 touchdowns and only four interceptions. But does he have enough left in the tank to grant his a team a second Super Bowl appearance? Tune in this Sunday to find out.

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These are the betting odds/statistics, according to CBS Sports:

• Packers vs 49ers spread: San Francisco -7.5
• Packers vs 49ers over-under: 45 points
• Packers vs 49ers money line: San Francisco -350, Green Bay +275
• GB: Packers have covered five of six games as a playoff underdog.
• SF: 49ers are 5-2 against the spread in the last seven meetings in this series.

The NFC saw the San Francisco 49ers (14-3) take on the Minnesota Vikings (11-7) in what proved to be a San Francisco dominated game. The 49ers won 27-10 in front of a red and gold crowd to move on the NFC Championship game.

The 49ers defense was solid all game and as the clock began to wind down in the fourth, they didn’t let up, shutting down Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins and the rest of the offense. Despite a few conversions and a fumble recovery late in the fourth, the Vikings were unable to pull off the win at Levi’s Stadium.

Cousins was 21 of 29 with one touchdown and one interception while Dalvin Cook was stopped on his nine carries for just 18 yards. San Francisco defensive coordinator Robert Saleh did an excellent job calling plays in order to keep Cook from doing what he does best.

San Francisco quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo had a decent night going 11 of 19 with one touchdown and an interception. Tevin Coleman led with 22 carries and 105 yards, while Raheem Mostert helped out by adding 58 yards on 12 carries. Richard Sherman also had a big night on defense, creating problems for Cousins in the back field.

Entering the offseason, the Vikings will reevaluate with potential roster changes and coaching shake-ups as they seek to fix the mistakes that have cost them big games this season.

As for the 49ers, they will face the winner of Green Bay and Seattle in the NFC Championship game and the chance to head to the Super Bowl.